With Brady Quinn not activated for the game today against the Detroit Lions, the Broncos are taking some risk by only dressing two quarterbacks. For that matter, they’re only dressing two tailbacks.

So let’s say Tim Tebow has the wind knocked out of him. Kyle Orton would come in and play quarterback. And then let’s say Orton bangs his hand on a helmet while passing and he loses feeling for half a quarter.

What then? The Broncos would have no choice but to run their Wild Horse offense with starting tailback Knowshon Moreno taking the shotgun snap. And if Moreno twists an ankle, Lance Ball would become the emergency quarterback taking the shotgun snap from center.

And if Ball gets dinged, the Broncos will punt on first down and hope their defense scores. Just kidding. Sort of.

No. 2 receiver Jabbar Gaffney had been the Broncos’ emergency quarterback in 2009-10. Rod Smith was always the emergency No. 3 QB during his playing career that ended following the 2006 season.